Personal multimedia speaker system

• US 5,588,063 A
• Filed: 05/18/1994
• Issued: 12/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Edgar, Albert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, PING
• Application Number:
  US08/245,519
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 381/88, 381/89, 381/90, 381/182, 381/188, 381/205, 381/154, 381/159, 381/91, 381/24, 181/156, 181/144, 181/199
• US Class Current: 381/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

This invention minimizes the space required for a speaker system for a multimedia personal computer display on a desktop. The speaker system has a very thin shape, moderate cost, very good impulse and phase response for a crisp sonic detail and good directionality for use by a single listener seated in front of the multimedia personal computer display without disturbing others nearby. Each component of the speaker system is attached to or incorporated in the right or left side of the computer display. Each component comprises a plurality of small speakers arranged in a vertical, linear array. Preferably, each plurality includes a small folded waveguide which is acoustically coupled to the rear of each of the speakers. The folded waveguide is in a unique sheet configuration and enables directional ports in a treble component and a folded variable impedance maze in a base waveguide. The speaker system provides the required shape, clarity and listener isolation needed in the personal multimedia market. A locator function is provided by the speaker system to locate the listener to enable stereo effects such as sonic holography.

Claims

1. A speaker system suitable for use in conjunction with a computer display comprising:

two speaker units each including a least four small speakers, arranged in a vertical linear array, each speaker unit having a width dimension substantially smaller than a height dimension to minimize a total width of the speaker unit, each speaker in each respective speaker unit coupled to be driven with a respective substantially identical first or second electrical signal so that the speakers in each speaker unit become a phased array;

an audio controller card for sending the first and second electrical signals to the speaker system, the first and second electrical signals including a locating signal for emitting sound impulses to locate a user'"'"'s position from at least two of the small speakers and an audio signal for creating audio sound from the speaker system, the audio controller card also for receiving electrical signals from the speaker system responsive to reflected sound impulses, for calculating a user'"'"'s position from differences between the emitted and reflected sound impulses and for altering the audio signal to account for the calculated user'"'"'s position.

2. A personal computer equipped with a speaker system comprising:

a memory coupled to a system bus for storing sets of instructions to operate the computer;

a processor coupled to the system bus for executing the sets of instructions stored in the memory;

a display coupled to the system bus having a front, viewing surface and adjacent left side and right side surfaces;

a right and left speaker unit respectively comprised of a right and a left plurality of small speakers arranged in vertical linear arrays to the right and the left side surfaces of the display, each speaker unit having an exterior height dimension substantially equal to an exterior height dimension of the display and a width dimension substantially smaller than its exterior height dimension to minimize a total width of the display and the speaker units, each speaker in the right and left speaker units receiving a right or a left electrical signal from the personal computer respectively, so that the speakers in each speaker unit become a phased array;

means for locating a user'"'"'s position in front of the display comprising at least two of the small speakers receiving the right or left electrical signal, to emit sound impulses which reflect off the user and to receive the reflected sound impulses and computer logic which measures the difference in time between the emitted sound impulses and the reflected sound impulses; and

means for altering the left and right signals optimize sound at the located user'"'"'s position.